Girl reaches kids with academic songs and books

To Ernst, you both love working with kids otherwise you don’t, and it’s all the time come simply to her.

“It’s very black and white. You understand that you don’t take pleasure in it and have zero persistence for it, it’s extremely irritating — otherwise you’re an enormous child your self, you don’t thoughts goofing off, you take pleasure in that interplay with them,” she stated. “And I believe that’s simply the inspiration of it. I genuinely take pleasure in working with kids. I really like interacting with them. And I believe that we share a mutual love of play and laughter and in addition studying.”

That has all the time been part of who Ernst is, each as a toddler and now as a 42-year-old dwelling in Forest

“I really like laughing, I really like being a ham and a goofball with them. I really like being playful with them and I really like studying every part in nature,” she stated.

As a toddler, artwork was her outlet and he or she would write brief tales and add illustrations to go together with it.

In 2017, she wrote a brief poem/story referred to as “Dragons Actually Do Love Tea,” and it was just a bit rhyme on her telephone for some time.

She had all the time needed to publish her personal e book when she was youthful and didn’t need to look again and surprise why she by no means went by means of with it.

Initially she didn’t intend to even promote the e book — she simply needed to put in writing and illustrate it and put all of it collectively for herself.

“I simply need to have the choice and if I ended up with a field of books within the attic that nobody’s ever learn then so be it,” she stated. “However I do know that I’ve type of crossed this off my little dream bucket record from my childhood and that’s the way it began.”

Her books are bought on her web site, Amazon and in Givens Books on Lakeside Drive.

From the e book, her firm Wild Pickle Press was born, which now consists of three different books: “Tomboy,” “The Small Gray Goat” and most lately, “Shout No!” which she revealed in January 2021.

Her profession took an sudden flip whereas main a small grassroots nature group with 3- to 7-year-olds in 2018.

Ernst stated she is fascinated by bugs and snakes and has by no means been bothered by them, so she needed to show the youngsters about venomous snakes by means of a music after she purchased her first ukulele.

“I simply picked one up as a result of I actually simply needed to study it. That’s it. And despite the fact that I actually wasn’t superb at it in any respect on the time, I couldn’t work out how somebody might presumably sing and strum on the identical time and it felt inconceivable,” she stated. “I believed this was such a enjoyable little instrument and I couldn’t hardly put it down.”

She needed to create a music to assist them determine snakes and what to do in the event that they noticed a bear.

From these songs got here one other music, and one other, and one other — till she had sufficient to make an album with 20 songs, which she titled “Think about, Really feel, Wander.”

She now has 4 albums which could be discovered on main audio platforms and are performed all over the world.

“All of it occurred organically and unexpectedly however splendidly in the identical means,” Ernst stated. “It’s been a really lovely and sudden journey.”

When she appears again at the previous couple of years, she says it’s been surreal. One in every of her songs has been within the working for a nomination by means of the Impartial Music Awards, she was invited to and performed on the FloydFest music pageant final 12 months and most lately received a nationwide songwriting contest with California Strawberries.

“Music is a strong instrument. If it’s catchy, they’ll study from it,” she stated. “I’ve loved educating by means of it and in addition making an attempt to empower feelings and use my songs to speak about emotions, use my songs to construct confidence to encourage a love of nature and encourage creativeness.”

It was that thought that impressed her most up-to-date e book and music, “Shout No!” — a e book educating youngsters how to answer a tough or probably scary scenario with strangers and even family and friends members.

She needed to be cautious when she wrote it. She didn’t need to frighten kids, however she needed one thing they might memorize and never simply higher perceive difficult conditions but additionally how kids might react in the event that they acknowledge such conditions.

The music is easy however for Ernst, if only one baby is saved from a probably harmful scenario, it’s value it.

In an effort to verify each baby had entry to it, the music is free to obtain on her web site.

“I’m not the very best singer on the earth and I’m not the very best ukulele participant. I’ve by no means claimed to be these issues, however I’ve a possibility to make a constructive and presumably beneficial impression on a toddler or a household indirectly, and never simply in America however in several elements of the world,” she stated. “And that’s a really rewarding alternative to be given and I actually simply attempt to not take it without any consideration.”

Ernst hopes that no matter she shares in the neighborhood will deliver worth, smiles and training of some extent.

“I hope folks see what I do as simply constructive and actual and hopefully useful and in addition enjoyable,” she stated.

Ernst reads her books and performs songs at space libraries together with on the Campbell County Library System, the place she has labored steadily with Occasions and Experiences Supervisor Katie Lane.

Lane met Ernst after she hosted a Dragons and Tea social gathering for the youngsters at one of many Campbell County libraries in 2017.

“The truth that she did every part on her personal could be very highly effective for youths,” Lane stated. “And realizing one in all your neighbors in the neighborhood was capable of get a e book revealed and promote a e book and share their superb artwork — I need to share these tales of folks that dwell right here.”

Ernst donates a few of her books to the library so kids can learn them proper off the cabinets, Lane stated, which is useful for households of decrease earnings ranges.

“I simply suppose it’s very noble of her that she makes certain that regardless of the scenario, youngsters have entry to her books, whether or not they pay for them or not,” she stated. “After which her music, they’re simply a lot enjoyable to play and sing alongside to.”

Lane described Ernst as an “extraordinarily pretty human” who cares about nature and folks.

“And whether or not that’s by means of the books or her pictures, she needs to savor each second, whether or not that’s defending the earth or cherishing these household moments. She only a high quality particular person in each means,” she stated.